US122119A - Improvement in calf-weaners - Google Patents

Description

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. R. KEEOH, OF BLADENSBURG, MARYLAND.`

IMPROVEMENT IN CIALF-WEANERS.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 122,119, dated December 26, 1871; antedated December 15, `1871.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. R. KEECH. of

` Bla-densburg, county of Prince Georges, State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Device for Preventing Calves from Sucking, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of this specitication, in Which Figure lis a perspective view; Fig. 2, a detached view or" one ofthe ears; and Fig. 3 is the plate or lip.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures.

During the process of weaning calves much difcultyis often experienced in overcoming their natura] tendency to suckle the cows, and cows themselves 4are often addicted to the same habit, in order to break up which various devices have been invented; but they are very imperfect in their operation, and so far fail of producing satisfactory results that farmers are ordinarily obliged to keep their young stock in separate fields, which produces seriousinconvenience, not only in sections ofthe country where fencing is scarce and the land is not suitably subdivided, but upon farms that are divided into small fields, because it is often difficult to furnish them with a proper supply of water when thus detached from vthe rest ofthe herd.r

My invention relates to an improvement upon the patent of A. S. Haven, February 4, 1868; and

consists in a cheap and convenient construction and arrangement of the devices by which the lip or hap, to be hereinafter described, can be suspended from the nose ofthe animal in such manner as to hang therefrom, as will be hereinafter fully described.

In the drawing, A represents a plate, made preferably of metal and in ,crescent form, as

shown in Fig. 3. Each end or horn is provided with a circular slot, a, for a purpose which will be explained. B B are ears or jaws made in substantially the shape shown, so as to form continuations of the horns. These ears are slotted, as at b, Fig. 1., so that they will slip over and rit closely the plate or a p A. The ears are perforated, as at b1 b2, Fig. 2. A rivet, b3, passes through perforaticns b1, as in Fig. l, and a thumbscrew, b4, passes through perfor-ations b2. Both the rivet and screw pass through the slots in the plate A, thus securing the ears to the plate, as will be readily understood.

The device is applied to the animal by placing one of the ears B upon each side of the cartilaginous septum or division of the nose, the ears serving as a clamp by which the plate is snspended in such manner that, although it does not interfere with eating or drinking when the nose is down upon the ground, because it swings at some distance from the under jaw, yet iteffectually prevents slickling, from the fact that when the head is in a horizontal position it (the plate) hangs down directly in front of the animals mouth.

When preferred, the slots a may be expanded into notches, as at a', Fig. 3, and either the rivet b3 or screw b4 may be made to enter one of these notches for the purpose of changing the angle of relation between the ears and the plate; or the inner side of the slot may be made in the form shown in dotted lines, to accomplish the same purpose.

It will be apparent that the clasp may be litted to animals of different ages and sizes, as the ears can be adjusted tc accommodate any thickness ot' septum in the nose; but I do not wish to be limited to the use of adjust-able ears, for I have found that the device can be made in one piece,

as the elasticity' of the cartilage will permit of its application to the nose with butlittle dif- As a modification of the above-described construction, it may be found desirable te make the device, wholly or in part, of vulcanized rubber, in which case a very convenient construction could be made by forming the upper ends ol' ears B into bulbs or knobs and connecting, them to the plate A by means of flexible sh an ks or stems. My device is, of course, adapted to be applied to young colts as well as cows or calves.

I do not claim, broadly, the combination of adjustable tips or, lugs with the flap or plate A, as they are admitted to be old.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with the slotted plate or lap A, the slotted adjustable ears B and thumbscrews b4, constructed and operating as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 17th day of May, A. D. 1871.

THOMAS A. B. KEEGH.

Witnesses:

EDM. F. BROWN,

ALEXR. MAJoN. (14.4)

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